March 29, 2001

MILWAUKEE - The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee today accepted the resignation of men's basketball coach Bo Ryan. Ryan is leaving UW-Milwaukee to become head basketball coach at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

"Bo Ryan has had an incredible impact on UW-Milwaukee during his short tenure here," said Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher. "He brought outstanding young student-athletes and coaches to our university, filled the Klotsche Center with fans, and raised UWM's profile in a metropolitan area that has very intense long-term loyalties to Wisconsin teams.

"I am grateful for what Bo did for us and wish him, his wife, Kelly, and his family the best in the future."

The Panthers enjoyed consecutive winning seasons under Ryan, finishing 15-13 this season and a combined 30-27 for the two years. Ryan joined UW-Milwaukee on April 1, 1999, as the Panthers' 18th head men's basketball coach. Prior to that, he led UW-Platteville to four NCAA Division III national titles while compiling a 353-76 overall record in his 15 years with the Pioneers.

According to UW-Milwaukee Athletic Director Bud Haidet, UW-Madison's decision to hire Ryan underscores the strength of the UW-Milwaukee athletic program that has been growing since the school re-entered NCAA Division I competition in 1990.

In the last few years, the UW-Milwaukee Panthers have enjoyed post-season NCAA tournament appearances by women's volleyball (three consecutive seasons), women's soccer, baseball and, just this month, women's basketball. Additional conference championships have recently been won by the women's soccer, men's and women's swimming, and men's and women's indoor and outdoor track teams.

Coach-of-the-year honors are frequently bestowed on Panther coaches, including Jerry Augustine (men's baseball), Sandy Botham (women's basketball), Dave Clark (women's swimming), Pete Corfeld (women's and men's track), Kathy Litzau (women's volleyball) and Mike Moynihan (women's soccer).

"Previously, we talked about gaining credibility for our programs," said Athletic Director Bud Haidet. "The results show we now have it."

Haidet said he will move forward quickly to secure a new men's basketball coach, starting this weekend at the NCAA Men's Basketball Final Four in Minneapolis.